Archive for 'Legends'

Castello di Brolio is a famous and beautiful Tuscan castle in the southern Chianti countryside, located on top of an isolated hill a few kilometers from Gaiole. It is famous for its stunning architecture, grounds and views but is also supposedly home to several ghosts and is where one of the most famous wines in the region was born.

A visit to the castle provides a whole day out as there is plenty of cultural and artistic gems and historic insights to be discovered but there is also still a functioning vineyard on the property where you can take tours and even sample a little of the lauded local tipple.

Once you have found a villa with a pool in Chianti and are exploring the region, you can rest assured knowing that you have one day trip planned already.

Our last few articles have discussed activities in Tuscany that go beyond the usual trips to palaces, churches, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions. Instead, we focused on activities that you might not have thought of before and that will keep the entire family happy, not just the adults. This article also gathers together some child-friendly activities for you and yours to enjoy once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany.

If you are getting familiar with the city of Florence, for example, there are plenty of different sorts of tours that you can try, both conventional and more interesting and unique varieties. However, one of the most unique ways to see the city is probably by going on the water bike tour. While it may not be suitable for young kids and ten is the minimum age allowed, it's definitely something that older children and teenagers would enjoy and gets the whole family out and about together for an adventure. The bicycles are standard mountain-bikes which have been transformed into proper water-bikes. Tours depart at either 7pm or 9pm and last for a duration of two hours and an informative, friendly and professional guide takes small groups out, allowing for lots of attention and personalisation.

Once you have found a vacation rental in Pistoia you might be looking for ways to fill your days while in this beautiful city.

Between the music festivals, historic and artistic gems, pretty views of the Tuscan landscape and local cuisine, you'll never be short on interesting (and delicious) things to see and do (and eat) but one event that we can particularly recommend is the traditional Feast of Saint Bartholomew that takes place on the 24th of August each year and combines a lot of the best parts of Pistoia in one event: good food, beautiful buildings, local tradition and the partying spirit of the city's inhabitants.

If you are planning on visiting this summer, this is one event that you won't want to miss!

Not far outside of Florence, you'll find the charming little town of Fiesole. This has been a favourite holiday destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for the likes of the Medici in the past and continues to be a location for a spot of escapism for the rich and famous. However, it has not always, and not for everyone, been a place for rest and relaxation. While tourists might now visit for the Medici villas, churches, historic buildings and archaeological wonders, a very famous visitor once came to the town with a very special purpose in mind. This visitor was none other than Leonardo da Vinci, who, long before the Wright brothers, was there to test out a flying machine. If you want to visit this charming town for yourself, just find a holiday rental in Fiesole, and be sure to stop by the site of Da Vinci's airport.

Italy is not short of tales of miracles. In fact, it's hard to find a town that doesn't have some site of a miraculous event. However, some tales are more extraordinary than others. Furthermore, they sometimes hide in plain sight in the most understated of places. A good example of this is the Chiesa Sant Ambrogio, or Church of Saint Ambrose, in Florence. Among the gilded Medieval, intensely classicising Renaissance and dramatic Baroque churches of the city, this little building does not particularly stand out. In many ways, it is a very underwhelming church but it doesn't hint at the unbelievable wealth of cultural and artistic treasures inside, including a miraculous chalice and works of art by some of the greatest Renaissance artists. Find a luxury villa in Florence and discover this hidden gem for yourself.